Sapere Aude

Bomb in Teashop Explodes in Somalia’s Capital, Killing 6

“A bomb hidden inside a teashop in Somalia’s capital exploded Thursday, killing four soldiers and two civilians, a Somali military official said. The attack followed a suicide car bomb that detonated in Mogadishu earlier in the day, killing the driver.

Military official Ahmed Ali said the soldiers were gathered at the teashop near a checkpoint when the blast, thought to be remotely controlled, occurred. Two other people were injured.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either attack. They come before Somalia holds a presidential election Dec. 28.

In the earlier blast, police said a suicide car bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a restaurant during a high-speed chase near the presidential palace, killing himself and injuring three others.

The blast occurred in a heavily guarded area where there are key government institutions, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein. The exact target was not clear, but Hussein said he believed the bomber was trying to ram his vehicle into a car carrying a senior police commander. The commander’s bodyguards were injured in the attack, he said.”